Hyderabad Man Extorts ₹1.2 Crore Using Businesswoman's Social Media Profile

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A Growing Trend: ₹1.2 Crore Extorted Through “DP Fraud” in Hyderabad

A recent case of cyber fraud in Hyderabad has highlighted the growing threat of “DP fraud,” where scammers use stolen profile pictures to extort money from unsuspecting victims. In this instance, a businesswoman’s photograph was misused by a fraudster to swindle ₹1.2 crore from her contacts.

Modus Operandi of the Scam

According to investigators, the scammer created a fake account using the victim’s profile picture and posed as her to deceive people into transferring money. The fraudster then reached out to individuals known to the victim, claiming urgent financial needs and requesting immediate payments. Believing the requests to be genuine, the victims transferred money to bank accounts provided by the accused.

Social Engineering Tactics

The scam relied heavily on social engineering tactics, where the fraudster leveraged the trust associated with the victim’s identity to manipulate victims into making quick payments. This type of scam is becoming increasingly common, especially on messaging platforms where profile pictures can be easily misused.

Investigation and Precautions

The Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police have registered a case and are investigating the incident. Authorities have collected call records, bank account transactions, and digital footprints of the accused to identify the fraudster and trace the flow of funds.

According to investigators, the scammer created a fake account using the victim’s profile picture and posed as her to deceive people into transferring money.

Warning and Precautions

This case is part of a growing pattern of DP frauds, where cybercriminals steal profile photos from social media or messaging platforms, create fake accounts impersonating known individuals, and send urgent requests for money to contacts. Similar cases have previously been reported where fraudsters impersonated company executives or acquaintances using profile pictures to extract money.

To avoid falling prey to such scams, authorities have issued a warning urging citizens to always verify financial requests, even from known contacts. Citizens are advised to avoid transferring money based on messages alone and to call the person directly before making urgent payments. Suspicious activity should be reported to the cybercrime helpline 1930.

Conclusion

As the threat of DP fraud continues to grow, it is essential for individuals and institutions to be aware of this type of scam and take necessary precautions to prevent financial losses.